A FATHER-of-two was killed in a motorcycle crash as he rode home from work in Southport on Thursday evening.

A FATHER-of-two was killed in a motorcycle crash as he rode home from work in Southport on Thursday evening.

Craig Hardingham, 46, of Chorley, died at the scene of the collision with a tree on Parbold Hill.

He had been riding a motorbike up the hill when it was involved in a collision with a yellow Peugeot 206 at around 5.20pm.

As a result of the collision his blue Suzuki left the road and smashed into the tree.

Lancashire Police are now appealing for witnesses to the fatal crash.

Sergeant David Tonge, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a tragic set of circumstances and our thoughts are with Craig’s family.

“I would like to appeal to anybody who may have witnessed the collision to contact police. I would also like to speak to anybody who may have seen the blue Suzuki or yellow Peugeot in the moments before the collision.

“Both vehicles were travelling from the direction of Burscough towards Standish.”

Nobody else was injured in the incident and the road was closed for three hours.

Craig’s family paid tribute to a “a loving family man with two children, Bethany Rose, 12, and Dillon Craig, 7.”

The family said: “He was an experienced motorcyclist and had been riding motorcycles

since he was 14 years old.

“The collision happened on Parbold Hill when he was returning home from his place of work in Southport.”

Anybody with any information should contact police on 01695-566486 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Did you work with or know Craig Hardingham? Call reporter Robert Alcock with your tributes on 01704-398287 or email visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk